Jesus gave Peter the
name Cephas, a stone (Jn. 1:42). The
first to confess Jesus as Messiah (Mt. 16:16), he was always close to Jesus, if
at all possible. He was one of the
three, with James and John. He had been
the one to take a sword and whack off the ear of the man at Gethsemane. He had left all to follow Jesus.
We are not surprised that
it was Peter who followed at a distance
as Jesus was interrogated at the house of Caiaphas. Only another
disciple (John 18:15f, presumably John) was closer, being known to the high
priest and thus having sufficient security
clearance to observe the trial and to get Peter in the gate.
The young woman who
opened the gate for Peter recognized him (Jn. 18:17). So did the soldiers who
had come to Gethsemane, with whom Peter was warming himself by the fire on that
cold night (Jn. 18:18,25). Then it was a
relative of Malchus, the man whose ear Peter had cut off (Jn. 18:26). There were no doubts in their minds. They had seen him in the Garden. And they recognized the Galilean accent that
made it easy to connect Peter and Jesus.
[Note: The crowing of the rooster refers to early
morning, between midnight and morning (Mark 13:35). Mark refers to the rooster crowing twice; the
others only mention once, which does not mean the rooster did not crow more
than once. Roosters are good for several
calls during the time called the crowing
of the rooster. Jesus’ prediction to
Peter was less than 10 hours earlier, saying that he would deny Him three times
before the next crowing of the rooster.]
Peter denied any connection
with Jesus. Once, and again, and then
again, each time with greater intensity, swearing that he was telling the truth
and calling on God to punish him if he was not!
Then the rooster crowed. Immediately,
we are told. And at that very moment Jesus
shot a quick glance in Peter’s direction.
And Peter melted in grief, leaving the courtyard as he wept
bitterly.
Let us note some things from this story that would be
helpful for us.
·
The world knows who we followers of Christ are
supposed to be. Saved people are all at
some stage of transformation into the image of Christ. The world may ridicule us, but they will also
know when we are not true to Him.
·
Jesus was destined to be alone and to be
crucified, the Holy One for the sinner.
But that in no way excuses Peter’s sin.
There was nothing that Peter could do to help Jesus. The cross was God’s grace to the world. But none of that changes this fact: Peter
denied His Lord!
·
The immediate bitter weeping of Peter is the
beginning of his repentance. However
misguided Peter was at times no one could doubt that he loved his Lord greatly. But this situation was enough for him to call
it quits and go back to his fishing (John 21:3). The glance from Jesus had been painful for
Peter, as if Jesus was saying, “See, I told you that you would deny Me.” Let us not forget that there was another part
of Jesus prediction about Peter: I have
prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to
e, strengthen your brethren (Lk. 22:32).
Peter would be reluctant but Jesus would come to him and call Him yet
again to follow me (Jn. 21:19).
Failure to stand with
and for our Lord should be grievous to us; it should pain our hearts. But that grief should be the seed of godly sorrow that produces repentance (2 Cor. 7:10).
Let us live and stand up in this world for the One who died for us and rose
again (2 Cor. 5:15).
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